Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics

Saber Rattling against China about territorial claims? Once again it’s about the oil, the huge oil reserves right underneath China! It’s why China is on the warpath against Uygur Muslims!

11 June 2015 (01:12 UTC-07 Tango 01)/21 Kordad 1394/23 Sha’ban 1436/25 Ren-Wu (4th month) 4713

“China is where all the growth in oil, gas and coal is going to be coming from.”-Lin Boqiang, PetroChina consultant

“China is the third country to achieve shale gas production capacity after the U.S. and Canada.”-Zhai Gangyi, Oil & Gas Resources Survey Center

For years we’ve been told China has no petroleum, but a new oil survey says otherwise.

The China Shale Gas Resources Survey says China is sitting on 25-trillion cubic meters of natural gas.  That’s 6-trillion more than what the United States is sitting on!

The Chinese government is already spending millions of USD developing the shale fields.  China’s state-owned Sinopec is already extracting the gas: “We produce 20 to 40 cubic meters of shale gas every day. That meets just about 50 thousand household’s energy demand for one day.”-Ouyang Liming, Jianghan Oilfield 2nd Shale Gas Platform

Analysts point out that most of China’s shale petroleum is inside mountains, and China does not have the water resources that the United States has.  However, Chinese scientist are trying to create waterless fracking technology.

So what part of China has the most petroleum?  Why, the very region where China is stealing land from the native Uygur Muslims.

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is being turned into a massive energy hub.  Not only does it have the most natural gas, it also has the most oil and coal of all the territories controlled by China.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that 40% of China’s petroleum reserves are in the Uygur region.

By the end of this year Uygur natural gas production is expected to hit 30.5-billion cubic meters.  There’s so much natural gas in the area that U.S. based General Electric (GE) is building nine small-scale LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plants.

Not only is the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region sitting on a lot of oil, but according to PetroChina consultant Lin Boqiang “…all the imported resources from Central Asia, oil and gas, go through Xinjiang and then get distributed from there.” 

This massive new oil production and transportation system is what President Xi Xinping is talking about when he mentions “The New Silk Road”.

Operation Pacific Pathways: Obama preps for war with China

Ebola? More likely it’s about all that new found oil

Who buys Islamic State oil? Israel, Jordan, Turkey, United States

ready to invade Syria… It’s about the oil! 

Yemen? It’s about the oil! 

Africa? IMF says it’s all about the oil, baby!

Another $1.3-billion for Afghan oil!

Red Horse, Leviathan & the real reason for War with Iran!

White Horse, Black Horse & controlling the international oil market (the Beast).

More proof it’s about the Oil, not civilians, in Libya 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 June 2015: “…a long, agonizing death…” “…the company is required to terminate all employees’…immediately…” France threatens hundreds of Idaho jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

It was revealed by Scottish news sources that British empire United Kingdom based Too Big to Jail HSBC will eliminate 22-thousand jobs around the World, including in the United States!  HSBC is the European Union’s largest bank.  HSBC is also in the process of carving itself up and selling off the pieces.

Arizona: University of Arizona warned of mass layoffs in August, this after the new budget forces the school to make $43-million USD in cuts!

Arkansas: Switzerland based Nestlé laid off 75 people at its Gerber Fort Smith baby food factory. Administrators claim its because they switched to using plastic baby food containers.

California: Recently the city of Fresno learned it would lose at least two Vons grocery stores, now Save Mart announced it to is shutting down. The will shutdown before the end of the month, and company administrators claim all 62 employees will be moved to other Save Marts (which doesn’t make sense because Save Mart will then have a lot of redundant employees). Officially administrators blame competition (really, with Vons getting outta town?), but it turns out that Save Mart owns the property, where they’re closing down their Clinton and Blackstone avenues grocery store, and they’ve decided to play the Sears Holdings game and make more money by leasing it out to their ‘competition’!  Palo Alto based Hewlett-Packard (HP) warned of more layoffs.  HP is in the process of eliminating 55-thousand+ jobs by October!  Originally the plan was to eliminate 27-thousand jobs.

Connecticut: Famous Stratford based helicopter maker Sikorsky announced that it is eliminating 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs around the World!  180 jobs will be lost in The Constitution State!  Sikorsky is consolidating operations due to the bad economy.

Delaware: In Wilmington, DuPont chemical company Chemours warned of layoffs.  This is connected to DuPont’s plan to spin-off Chemours.  City administrators are afraid Chemours will pull stakes and move somewhere else after the spin-off.

Florida: Orlando based Golf Channel laid off 30 employees.  It’s part of Comcast’s plan to downsize.

Idaho: France based French taxpayer owned nuclear power company Areva has been sold off and now 6-thousand jobs around the World are threatened!  Areva has been operating under contract at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in eastern Idaho.   On 03 June the French government approved  the sale of the majority of Areva to a company called EDF (Electricite de France).   Areva administrators are challenging the sale.

Kentucky: Rhino Resource Partners announced they’ve issued layoff notices to 192 coal miners!

Michigan: In Ann Arbor, successful Lexi’s Toy Box shutdown, the owner said she want’s to join her husband in retirement: “I just thought it would be a nice time to be free.”-Crystal Metzger

New Hampshire: After 32 years, the owner of Video Headquarters announced he will shutdown in July: “Despite our success, the home entertainment industry has evolved dramatically in recent years with a major shift to digital media and this evolution is impossible to ignore. After 32 years of operation, the time has come to lock the doors for the last time when our lease ends……It would just be a long, agonizing death, this way we can say we got out on top”-Kenneth McAleer

New York: Nirvana Spring Water now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down their Oneida County bottling factory, 70 jobs lost by September. The company owes millions of dollars to the New York Business Development Corporation.  Obama Care forcing Mount Kisco Medical Group to issue a WARN saying 109 employees will become unemployed by August!   In NYC, law firm Mel S. Harris and Associates issued a shutdown WARN for September, at least 53 jobs lost.  NYC based quirky new products company Quirky laid off between 20 and 30 employees.  The news was reported by three former employees.  Company administrators admitted they had to cut costs by outsourcing their manufacturing.  California based clothier Band of Outsiders shutdown their nine months old Soho store! News reports say company administrators refuse to explain.

Oklahoma: Texas based Apache Oil & Gas announced it will shutdown its Tulsa office in August, 160 jobs affected!

Oregon: In Portland, after 36 years Martinotti’s Cafe & Deli was killed off by the greedy landlord jacking up the rent: “Rent has raised considerably! It’s more than what’s doable for us which is why we aren’t staying.”– Martina Martinotti, granddaughter of owner

Pennsylvania: Administrators of the city of Coatesville learned that Sikorsky will eliminate 720 local jobs over the next 12 months (see above)!   In Kingston, after 24 years the Pizza Mill restaurant shutdown: “We’re moving onto other things. We want to have some time with our families and do some traveling and catch up on lost time.”-Mark Cardone, co-owner

Rhode Island: Empire Beauty Schools blames what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome for the reason they’re shutting down their Providence school.

South Carolina: CertusBank announced it is dead!  Administrators are shutting down their HQ and are carving up and selling off the rest of the Too Big to Jail bank.  The Bank of North Carolina and the Community & Southern Bank have been named as some of the buyers.  No indication how many jobs are lost, CertusBank had dozens of offices in several southern states.

Texas: San Benito School District warned they will make additional layoffs.  A week prior eight employees were let go, the district is trying to cut $14.5-million in costs.  Administrators admitted they made mistakes in hiring more employees at a time when they were losing students (Disappearing Student Syndrome).   Administrators also revealed they’ve already saved $5-million by pushing employees to retire early or quit.  The owners of El Paso Saddleblanket will shutdown their warehouse outlet store in July, and will focus on wholesale and internet sales only.  The maker of cowboy stuff will also keep their El Paso Airport gift shop open.  The owners said 80% of their sales are now wholesale/import-export.

Virginia:  The Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet, on Peters Creek and Brandon in Roanoke, shutdown with no explanation.

Washington: What housing market recovery?  Federal Home Loan Bank laid off 109 people in Seattle!

Wisconsin: Golden County Foods revealed it went chapter 11 bankrupt busted back in May, and has been sold-off, threatening 432 jobs: “As a condition to the sale to Monogram, the company is required to terminate all employees’ employment with the company immediately prior to the closing of the sale…”-Tina Check, Golden County Foods

28 – 31 May 2015: Republicans call 9,500 layoffs a “Good Day”!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis 10 June 2015: Albertsons Safeway shuts down forgotten Island store! Hospitals take over Safeway stores! Shutdowns negatively affect surrounding stores!

Cerberus controlled and AB Acquisition owned Albertsons-Safeway decided to shutdown another Washington grocery store: “In Mercer Island, we are also unfortunately facing a substantial rent increase that makes it financially unfeasible to remain in the space.”

Local news reports say residents of the island are majorly pissed off because in the recent past they tried to get the city council to allow competing grocery operations to set up shop in their city.  The city council refused!  Albertsons-Safeway claimed that their Mercer Island store was “underperforming”.  A 2008 blog post stated that Mercer Island had a grand total of three grocery stores, and the Albertsons was the worst managed of them all!   The blog post, titled You’ve Got To Be Kidding, said the Albertsons was “hidden” and that “Sometimes I even have trouble finding the food in there.”

In Colorado, KKCO reporting that the recent shutdown of the Redland’s Monument Village Shopping Center Safeway store is drastically reducing customer traffic for the remaining business in the Shopping Center. Chiropractor Ron Engler reports a noticeable decline in customers, so much so that he must now spend money on an aggressive advertising campaign.

Also in Colorado, Yampa Valley Medical Center has signed a contract to buy the abandoned Safeway grocery store. What should be scandalous is that the property is owned by current Craig city council member Kent Nielson.

In Montana, one of two abandoned Safeways mysteriously being torn down to make room for the Providence-Saint Patrick’s Medical Center expansion.  The other Safeway is now a Fresh Market.  The two Safeways were sold off in 2014, as part of the Albertsons merger, after 75 years of serving Missoulans.  Both stores were apparently bought by Orange Street Food Farms-Fresh Market.  News reports, some dated as late as 27 May 2015, said both stores were now Fresh Markets.  The store on Researve Street is a Fresh Market, but according to a news report dated 10 June 2015 the store on Broadway is the one being torn down for the hospital.   I haven’t found any reports explaining what happened to the Fresh Market that was supposed to take over the Broadway Safeway.

08 June 2015: Property analyst calls B-S on official shutdown explanation! 

Updated list:

Manitoba, Canada: Sobeys-Safeway announced it will shutdown it’s King Edward Street warehouse by 2016, at least 172 jobs lost!

Arizona, U.S.A.: Peoria Safeway and Claypool Safeway will shutdown in June, at least 94 jobs affected. The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Anthem Safeway, two Tucson Safeways, Tucson Albertsons, two Scottsdale Albertsons, Flagstaff Albertsons, Prescott Valley Albertsons. In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.

California, U.S.A.: The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June. Two Albertsons-Safeway owned Vons stores will shutdown in Fresno, by June, 127 jobs lost! Albertsons-Safeway laid off 129 people from their Pleasanton HQ in April. Albertsons-Safeway issued a WARN saying another 188 layoffs are scheduled for the Pleasanton by the end of May! Albertsons-Vons announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.” Arcadia Vons Pavillions SuperStore shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ laid off at least 26 people in February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway laid off an additional 18 HQ employees in March. A San Diego Albertsons shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost. The following additional grocery stores will become Haggen; Vons in Palm Desert, Pavillions in Rancho Mirage, two Santa Barbara Albertsons, two Goleta Vons, Lompoc Albertsons, Paso Robles Vons, Arroyo Grande Albertsons, San Louis Obispo Albertsons, Atascadero Albertsons, Los Osos Vons, Palmdale Albertsons, three Bakersfield Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Simi Valley Albertsons, Simi Valley Vons, Oxnard Albertsons, Carpinteria Vons, Camarillo Albertsons, Ventura albertsons, Yorba Linda Albertsons, two Tustin Vons, Mission Viejo Vons, Mission Viejo Albertsons, Trabuco Canyon Albertsons, Laguna Beach Albertsons, Laguna Niguel Vons, Corona Del Mar Albertsons, Irvine (Vons) Pavillions, eight San Diego Albertsons (don’t be surprised if several are closed), San Yisidro Albertsons, Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, Coronado Albertsons, San Marcos Vons, two El Cajon Vons, Santee Albertsons, Poway Albertsons, Del Mar Albertsons, two Carlsbad Albertsons, two La Mesa Vons, three Chula Vista Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), Upland Albertsons, Diamond Bar Vons, Rancho Cucamonga Albertsons, Chino Hills Vons, Burbank Albertsons, Woodland Hills Vons, Westlake Village Albertsons, Thousand Oaks Albertsons, Santa Clarita (Vons) Pavillions, Saugus Vons, Newbury Park Vons, Tujunga Albertsons, Long Beach Albertsons, two San Pedro Albertsons, Lomita Albertsons, Torrance Albertsons, Santa Monica Albertsons, three Redondo Beach Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Los Angeles Albertsons.

Colorado, U.S.A.: Yampa Valley Medical Center has agreed to buy the abandoned Craig Safeway store from city council member Kent Nielson.  KKCO reports instant decline in customer traffic for other business at the Monument Valley Shopping Center after the Redland’s Safeway shutdown.  Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June! Colorado Springs Albertsons shutdown in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Florida, U.S.A.: Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Clearwater store in May, 86 jobs lost.

Hawaii, U.S.A.: Drugs pusher Walgreens canceled plans to open a pharmacy in the Kauai Safeway: “As part of this process, Walgreens did a comprehensive financial reassessment of its plans to open a new store in Lihue on Kauai, and have concluded that it is not in the company’s best interests to move forward with opening a store in that location.”

Illinois: The Jewel-Osco HQ in Itasca was sold for $23.7-million. A local news report implied it was the result of the hostile takeover of Safeway by Albertsons.

Montana: In Missoula, two Safeways sold to Orange Street Food Farms-Fresh Market.  Recent news reports said that one is being torn down for the Providence-Saint Patrick’s Medical Center, despite all previous reports saying both former Safeways were now Fresh Markets.

Nevada, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Boulder City Vons, three Henderson Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), three Las Vegas Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed).

Oregon, U.S.A.: Beaverton Albertsons being shutdown on 20 June, 68 jobs affected. In Lake Oswego, Albertsons taken over by Haggen. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March. Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen. Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.

Pennsylvania: The last Safeway owned Genuardi’s grocery store shutdown, 40 jobs lost.

Texas, U.S.A.: Arlington Tom Thumbs shutting down in June, at least 45 jobs affected. In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons became Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets (apparently the result of a court order). The Tom Thumb grocery stores in Bedford and Grapevine converting to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.

Washington, U.S.A.:  The Merced Island Albertsons being shutdown in July, the pharmacy has already shutdown.  The Poulsbo Albertsons shutting down in July, 60 jobs affected. The Safeway in Spokane Valley shutdown in March, 60 jobs lost. Company administrators said it was not due to the takeover by Cerberus controlled Albertsons, but that the lease expired and it wasn’t worth renewing it. In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June. Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February. Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March. Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June. Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February. Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March. Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 10 June 2015: Sales crash by 67%! Eddie Lampert revealed as False Flag operator?

“What he’s done brilliantly is manage these brands into oblivion while squeezing billions of dollars of cash into his elusive businesses.”-Robin Lewis, The Robin Report, talking about Eddie Lampert’s False Flag efforts to ‘save’ Sears and Kmart

Sears Holdings reports sales that are crashing & burning.

Sales at Kmart have crashed by 67% over the past 14 years (2000 to 2014)!  Is it connected to the fact that Eddie Lampert has shutdown hundreds of Kmarts (and hundreds more were shutdown prior to the merger with Sears)?  News reports say in the Gregorian year 2000 Kmart had 2,165 stores, now it has only 979.

Sales for Sears fell 54% over the past 14 years!  Thousands of Sears stores have been shutdown during that time.  Is there a correlation, less stores equal less sales?  But hey, what do I know, I’m not an exalted corporate administrator like Eddie Lampert.

On top of the gloomy 14 years sales decline, Sears Holdings reported a 7% sales drop for Kmart, and a 14.5% drop for Sears, in their 1st Quarter of 2015!

However, and as usual, Eddie Lampert remains optimistic: “During the first quarter, we made significant progress in our transformation from a traditional, store-network based retail business model to a more asset-light, member-centric integrated retailer leveraging our Shop Your Way platform. As our improved EBITDA results over the last three consecutive quarters demonstrate, we are successfully enhancing our margin rates and EBITDA performance as we become more efficient with our promotional programs and the use of Shop You Way to replace more traditional forms of marketing with targeted and personalized digital interactions. With the completion of the joint venture transactions with three leading shopping mall owners and operators, and the advanced formation of the Seritage REIT, we will become more productive with our physical store space. This will position Sears Holdings for long-term success consistent with our focus on our best stores, rewarding our best members and pursuing our best categories to transform Sears Holdings into a leading integrated retail membership-focused company leveraging our Shop Your Way platform.”

02 June 2015: Finally, stockholders rebel against Eddie Lampert! Sears franchise owner says he can make more money as a lowly assistant manager! 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

ObamaCare job destruction, 2nd quarter 2015: Hospitals overcharge by 1,000%! “The mortality rates will increase, we will have deaths….” “…extremely low…reimbursement levels…have finally proven impossible to bear.”

“This is now part of the fabric of how we care for one another, this is healthcare in America!  It seems so cynical to want to take health care away from millions of people.”-Barack Obama, making an Orwelian Double Speak statement about ObamaCare to the Catholic Health Association, 09 June 2015

Health Affairs has published a study which says at least 50 U.S. hospitals overcharged for services rendered by as much as 1-thousand percent!

Nightly Business Report revealed that ObamaCare insurance companies are merging and that will result in higher costs to individuals and less access to healthcare: “The best available economic evidence out there suggests that when insurers consolidate, premiums go up…..no evidence that to the extent that there are price decreases to providers, that these get passed on to consumers…..when there is less competition in a marketplace…there would be potentially a reduction in quality of plan as well, simply because you don’t have to compete as hard to gain business.

So, the real question is, with these transactions, are any of them motivated by the potential to really bring down cost and improve quality?”-Leemore Dafny, Kellogg School of Management

The following is an incomplete list of healthcare (and other industries) job cuts that took place, or were announced, from April to June 2015, and were directly or indirectly blamed on Obama Care:

Japan based legal drugs maker Eisai announced it will eliminate more than 2-hundred jobs within the United States! Eisai has ops in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Administrators blame the job cuts on a 47% drop in profits.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) laid off employees in New York, Washington DC, California and Wyoming. ACLU administrators blamed it on the loss of a major donor, but also mentioned the increased employee health care costs, caused by Obama Care.

California:  In Sacramento, Response 1 Medical Staffing now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Managed health care provider Health Net issued three mass layoff WARNs saying 2,122 health insurance related jobs will be eliminated on 26 June 2015! (and never mind the reports that Health Net is being sued for canceling their customer’s treatments, resulting in at least one death!) In Joshua Tree, Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care issued a mass layoff WARN saying 541 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June! In Yucca Valley, Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care issued a layoff WARN saying at least 42 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June.   Bankrupt Daughters of Charity Health System tried to sell-off six hospitals but nobody wanted to buy, so now at least 280 healthcare workers will become unemployed! Administrators stated that the current layoffs will barely “restore our hospitals to break-even status financially” due to Obama Care insurance reimbursement cuts. To make matters worse, and guarantee a total hospital system shutdown, government Obama Care administrators have told ten insurance companies to stop sending their customers to Daughters of Charity Health System!  In Berkeley, East Bay Perinatal Medical laid off 34 people.  In Burbank,  Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center blood donor service, 34 jobs lost.   In San Pablo, taxpayer funded Doctors Medical Center  shutdown at the end of April, and failing to find a new owner/operator it will be carved up and sold-off. 80% of the customers are on Medicare or Medicaid (Medical in California) and Obama Care drastically cut reimbursements, and even forces Medicare/Medicaid recipients to stop going to hospitals. Local news reports said the loss of the hospital results in the residents of West Contra Costa County losing 79% of their access to healthcare: “The mortality rates will increase, we will have deaths related to the closure of Doctors Medical Center.”-Maria Sahagun, registered nurse

In Poway, Palomar Health shutting down their Pomerado Hospital, hundreds of jobs lost and hundreds of patients affected!  And in Escondido, Palomar Health reports that ObamaCare is causing their Palomar Medical Center to lose $20-million USD per year! As a result they’re considering shutting it down (despite a previous announcement that the 56 acre hospital was going to be doubled in size!), forcing the 8-thousand patients who use the hospital to travel at least 12 miles for healthcare: “The right thing to do and the right decision at the right time is to make the recommendation to the board of directors they should close the downtown campus.”-Bob Hemker, CEO

Head Start Child Development issued dozens of WARNs saying they are shutting down operations throughout California, hundreds becoming jobless by the end of June!  In Laguna Hills, Herren Enterprises to shutdown their Doctor’s Ambulance Service in July and issue a WARN saying 117 EMT related jobs will be eliminated!  Fireman’s Fund Insurnace Company issued a WARN saying they will layoff employees in July.  Hollywood Presbyterian Medical issued a WARN saying 87 people will be laid off in July.  In Elk Grove, Sutter Medical Foundation issued a WARN saying 17 people will be laid off in July.  Western Dental Services to stop taking low income patients at 13 California offices, a shutdown WARN indicated 237 jobs could be lost: “…the extremely low funding and reimbursement levels …..have finally proven impossible to bear.”-official Western Dental Services statement

Colorado: In Longmont, the legal drugs seller Walgreens announced it will shutdown its Main Street store in June. Company administrators would only say “We are closing a number of stores that are underperforming around the country.”

Connecticut:  ObamaCare forced Bristol Hospital to layoff 37 employees, and shutdown six vacant positions. Hospital administrators blamed state ‘lawmakers’ for cutting $2-million in Medicaid reimbursements, but directly blamed ObamaCare for the loss of $3-million in Medicare reimbursements! Administrators also warn of more layoffs as they are expecting another $7-million in losses over the next two years!  Bloomfield based global health insurance company Cigna is fighting off attempts by Indiana based Anthem. Recently Anthem tried to buyout Cigna for $53.8-billion. If a takeover is successful you can bet they’ll be massive layoffs in an attempt to eliminate all the redundant jobs as a result.  Yale-New Haven Health System shutting down their East Haven and Branford clinics, through taxpayer funding cuts. 31 jobs lost. Hartford HealthCare to eliminate 355 full-time jobs, plus many part-time jobs, at two of its hospitals; Backus and Windham.  Hartford laid off 350 healthcare workers in 2014: “Despite our best efforts to reduce costs and increase revenues this year, Hartford HealthCare faces additional Medicaid cuts, bringing our total Medicaid payment reductions from the State of Connecticut to more than $100-million over five years. The magnitude of these cuts makes our model unsustainable going forward.”-Jeffrey Flaks

Florida:  50 years old Campbellton-Graceville Hospital to shutdown, at least 95 jobs lost. Administrators said Obama Care was the final straw, causing a huge drop off in people coming in for help, and causing a huge drop in insurance reimbursements.  Panama City’s Crothall Healthcare issued a WARN saying 167 people will become unemployed in July!  In Lake Mary, Access MediQuip laid off 84 people and shutdown, without warning.  46 jobs lost with non-profit OneBlood blood collection service: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Hawaii: The state run ObamaCare Hawaii Health Connector laid off 25 people. It’s because state administrators are shifting from running their own ObamaCare website to the federal government’s insurance exchange website.  Taxpayer funded Hawai’i Health Systems Corporation’s  eliminating 87 jobs in its East Hawai’i Region. That includes Hilo Medical Center, Ka’u Hospital, and Hale Ho’ola Hamakua. Administrators estimate that increasing costs and decreasing Obama Care reimbursements will cost the state hospital system $7-million USD in revenue losses for fiscal year 2016! Administrators warned that Obama Care is actually restricting access to healthcare: “Some healthcare services for our communities will be reduced and disrupted….As a result of operational efficiencies and cost reductions we’ve already instituted, we are able to complete our current fiscal year intact, but those action are not enough to make up for the coming year’s shortfall….it saddens us that very capable people who help care for our community will lose their jobs.”-Dan Brinkman, interim CEO

Idaho: Assurant eliminating 65 health insurance jobs in Boise by August. It’s all part of their plan to get out of the healthcare insurance business, blaming ObamaCare (see New York below).

Illinois:  Hospital operator Porter Health eliminating 70 administrative/IT jobs. In a complicated way administrators blamed the new electronic medical records system pushed by ObamaCare. Chicago based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions to layoff 250 healthcare information tech employees across the United States! It was implied that electronic healthcare records keeping will be, or already has, been moved to India.  Deerfield based legal drugs pusher, commonly known as Walgreens, announced they will shutdown 2-hundred U.S. stores between now and the end of 2017, in order to cut $1.5-billion from their budget. Walgreens shutdown 76 stores in 2014. This comes after Walgreens spent $16-billion to merge with United Kingdom based Alliance Boots, it’s now officially called Walgreens Boots Alliance. More cuts will follow: “These American markets are ready for more consolidation…..We will be at the forefront of consolidation…..we should every year review all the stores and if every year we have to close ten stores…do it.”-Stefano Pessina, acting CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Indiana: Symmetry Medical Manufacturing to shutdown its Noble County factory by the end of the year, 130 jobs lost (layoffs start in June)!  67 Goodwill employees suddenly lost their jobs at the Richard K. Roudebush VA Medical Center. Goodwill administrators said that “Specifically, the Medical Center unexpectedly ended its longstanding contractual relationship with Goodwill without any prior notice of performance problems.” They also hinted at Obama Care, blaming “unforeseeable business circumstances”.  Mental Health America Day Homeless Shelter shutdown. Administrator Jennifer Flora says the police state federal government is forcing cities to round up homeless people into one location: “They’re wanting individuals who are homeless to be able to go to one place…”

The Community Blood Center shutting down its donor centers in West Chester and Richmond by September. This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Iowa: God refuses to stop ObamaCare from shutting down ‘his’ Quakerdale residential treatment programs.  Administrators say since ObamaCare went into effect referrals have crashed and state funding has dried up.

Kansas: Select Specialty Hospital shutting down their ops within the Saint Francis Hospital in Topeka. Administrators directly blamed Obama Care for changing the rules for reimbursing healthcare providers for long term acute care. News reports say about 1-hundred jobs lost!   In Wichita, after 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Rieger Medical Supply shutdown. The owner blamed the internet and “massive government regulations”, but the final straw was when her husband died: “A family business doesn’t do well without a family.”-Karin Rieger

Kentucky: Louisville based health insurance company Humana is considering a takeover bid by Connecticut based Aetna. If the deal is accepted then the 12-thousand Humana employees, and the more than 47-thousand employees with Aetna, will be threatened.  In Louisville, Indiana based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield laying off 54 people in July. Administrators swear they warned employees back in May. Administrators blame it on mergers with other ObamaCare insurance companies.

Louisiana: State Civil Service administrators revealed that 8-thousand 4-hundred ‘classified’ state employees have been laid off since 2008!  The majority of layoffs are directly connected to the taxpayer funded LSU Hospital system!   Civil Service administrators point out that the number of layoffs reported do not include those employees who were pushed to retire early or quit.  They admitted that the original goal was to eliminate 13,615 ‘classified’ state employees!

Maine:  Parkview Adventist Medical Center now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. They plan to merge with Mid Coast Health Services, 180 jobs affected!

Maryland: The first medical research school in the United States, John Hopkins University, announced they must eliminate jobs due to crashing federal taxpayer funding, and increased costs artificially created by new federal regulations. At this point 109 jobs being eliminated or “reorganized”! However, unnamed employees say they’ve been warned that 10% of the 20-thousand employees will eventually be laid off!  Teen pregnancy prevention op Teens Have Choices shutdown due to lack of funding caused by declining teen pregnancies.

Massachusetts: Medical device maker Grove Instruments now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  Symmetry Medical Manufacturing to shutdown its New Bedford factory over the next 12 months. Layoffs begin in June, 190 jobs lost!  In Boston weak, Lahey Health to eliminate 130 jobs at three of its hospitals! Administrators referred to Obama Care as “an exceedingly challenging health care environment”. They also blamed the implementation of a new healthcare information sharing system called EPIC.   Partners Health Care-North Shore Medical Center shutdown their Union Hospital, about 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say because of ObamaCare slashing and burning reimbursements they have no choice but to consolidate hospitals.

Michigan: Insurance provider HealthPlus to eliminate 5-hundred jobs! The layoffs will begin in July. HealthPlus is selling its Medicaid and MIChild contracts to a competitor.

Minnesota: Minnetonka based IMRIS (Innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems) to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Reports say the company could be taken over by vulture capitalist Deerfield Management.   In Saint Paul, after 40 years Pro Pharmacy shutdown. The owner has sold it to Walgreens-Boots Alliance, which just happens to be in the process of shutting down 2-hundred Walgreens stores.

Mississippi: Garden Park Medical Center to shutdown eight of its 10 clinics! News reports say the shutdowns will begin in May and end by October, and that hospital administrators have ordered employees not to talk to the media about it, or they will lose their jobs. Administrators say Obama Care is forcing them to cut costs drastically.

Missouri: Mercy Health eliminating 474 jobs across their multi-state hospital system! I guess ObamaCare showed them (Missouri is nicknamed The Show Me State)! Mercy administrators directly blame ObamaCare: “…Mercy faces increasing challenges to our reimbursement structure as we adjust to reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act and other budget cuts, as well as the lack of Medicaid expansion in most of our states.”

New Jersey: Continuum Health Alliance killed off 88 jobs. Administrators referred to Obama Care as “today’s rapidly changing health care landscape”.

New York:  The Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System announced it is shutting down its Brooklyn unit in July. VA administrators said that with the drastic budget cuts for next fiscal year, the only way to continue funding programs was to shutdown inpatient care.    Brooklyn Kidney Center announced they are selling off their New York Dialysis Services, 65 jobs threatened.  Medical tech company Getinge Sourcing issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Rochester operations in September, 68 jobs lost.   Ortho Clinical Diagnostics turning over their Rochester operations to Nypro in July. They expect at least 105 of their 1-thousand jobs to be lost in the transfer!   Visiting Nurse Service Home Care issued several layoff WARNs saying at least 50 people will be jobless by the end of July.   Legal drugs maker Forest Laboratories reminded state employment administrators that they’ve been sold to Ireland based drugs maker Actavis, and that Actavis plans to move New York ops to New Jersey, 5-hundred jobs affected!  Non-profit Saint John’s Riverside Hospital shutting down and selling off their Michael Malotz Skilled Nursing Facility, 226 jobs to be lost starting in July!  LifeMed Pharmacy has been sold, 65 employees now unemployed.  Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services issued a mass layoff WARN saying they are canceling funding for all Residences and Day Habilitation operations across the state! At least 719 jobs lost by August! In Rockaway Beach, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care announced it is forced to hand over their Headstart Program to another operator in July, 48 jobs affected.  Mount Kisco Medical Group eliminating 109 jobs over the next 90 days!  In order to deal with reduced reimbursements the largest physician group in the Lower Hudson Valley is outsourcing billing operations.  NYC based Assurant selling-off their Health Insurance ops, claiming that even with the Obama Care payment reductions they are still going to lose $90-million for their 1st quarter of 2015. Basically the Assurant CEO, Alan Colberg, said Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough: “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”

According to a report by Modern Healthcare “Assurant Health also blamed losses on low recoveries from the ACA’s [Affordable Care Act, Obama Care] insurance risk programs and the policy shift that allowed people to stay in plans that are not compliant with ACA standards.” The sale of Assurant Health will affect access to health care for 1-million people! One more thing; Assurant Health admits that the insurance industry written Obama Care failed in estimating just how many sick poor people there are in the U.S., saying the Affordable Care Act “had worse morbidity characteristics than we had assumed”.

North Carolina: Physicians Choice Laboratory Services laid off 120 people at their Rock Hill Riverwalk Business Park! Christine Marks, vice president for marketing, directly blamed ObamaCare/healthcare reforms for reduced reimbursements from Medicare and private insurance.  It’s been revealed that for-profit managed county owned Yadkin Valley Community Hospital shutdown, 150 jobs lost at the end of May! News reports blame disputes between the greedy for-profit managers and the county over the lease.

Ohio: Regency Hospital of Akron shutting down, 85 jobs lost. New York based insurance company Assurant laid off 125 people in Dayton and Springfield due to lack of sales!  In Dayton, the Community Blood Center shutting down its Donor Testing Laboratory in September. This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Oregon: After 20 years the operators of Oregon Coast Periodontics announced it will shutdown, supposedly because the owner moved to Louisiana, which they called “unfortunate circumstances”.  After 43 years the Grande Ronde Child Center shutting down. It’s blamed on the loss of a contract with Greater Oregon Behavioral Health. State mental health administrators blame ObamaCare: “The services currently being offered by GRCC are not in line with the direction health care reform is going.”-Henry O’Keefe, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health

Pennsylvania: ObamaCare caused a riff between the the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Philly.com and the employee’s Newspaper Guild.  The employers did not want to pay more to cover increased health insurance costs, but after negotiations they agreed to pay more for the ObamaCare insurance but in exchange there will be no pay raises for the next two years!  In Bethlehem, Metro Ambulance Service ceased to exist.  Cumberland Family Practice to be merged with Good Hope Family Physicians, and forcing Baughman Family Medicine to shutdown! Doctor Paul Baughman directly blamed ObamaCare for “…dropping reimbursement, increasing overhead and a few unexpected bumps in the road.” Administrators with insurance company Capital BlueCross admitted that ObamaCare was going to drive up the cost of healthcare, ironically by forcing people back into emergency rooms as more health clincs shutdown or consolidate due to reduced reimbursements: “If they have health issues, they may have to go to the ER, hopefully an urgent care clinic, and the ER is an expensive place to get primary care. That adds to the cost.”-Aji Abraham

Rhode Island: non-profit Rhode Island Blood Center to layoff 60 people. Administrators say changes caused by ‘health care reform’ will increase their costs of testing for blood-borne disease by at least $2-million per year!

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls the Veteran’s Outreach Center shutting down in August due to lack of funding. It’s connected in part to the collapse of New York based Volunteers of America, but also because the Obama regime’s Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled their contract with Veteran’s Outreach Center. Essentially the VA admitted they can’t pay for the care of military veterans!

Texas: In Heights, Select Specialty Hospital issued a shutdown WARN for July, eliminating 222 jobs! Administrators called Obama Care “business reasons”. Taxpayer funded non-profit El Paso Children’s Hospital to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted! In Houston, Access MediQuip laid off at least 80 people and shutdown without warning.

Virginia: Richmond based Health Diagnostic Laboratory now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, after announcing it will layoff 42 more employees across the country. Last year the medical testing company laid off 162 people! It’s connected to a federal investigation, and subsequent $47-million fine, in which the company is accused of bribing doctors and hospitals.  Thrive Healthcare shutdown blaming debts.   Tax-sucker General Dynamics laid off 137 IT workers! Those information technology employees were supporting the Healthcare Quality Improvement Systems contract to “monitor and improve utilization and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid”.  General Dynamics lost the contract.

Washington: In Castle Rock, Peace Health shutting down their clinic by the end of September.  1-thousand 6-hundred primary and pediatric care patients affected! Customers are being told they will have to travel to Longview for services.

Wisconsin: Health care provider GeminiCares eliminated 7-hundred jobs!  Assurant announced that 1-thousand 2-hundred people in Milwaukee will be laid off starting in August and running into 2016! It’s the result of Assurant getting out of the health insurance business (see above).  Assisted living center Emeritus Senior Living laid off 10 HQ employees.

So Barack Obama, what was that about taking away healthcare “from millions of people”?

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

1st quarter 2015: “more change than we’ve seen in the past 75 years combined.” 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 28 – 31 May 2015: Republicans call 9,500 layoffs a “Good Day”! Students continue to disappear from schools, causing more layoffs! More than 5-thousand Too Big to Jail jobs eliminated, blaming the Federal Reserve!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: San Francisco based “creative agency” Goodby Silverstein & Partners laying off an undisclosed number of people in The Golden State and New York.  In Burbank, god refused to stop Obama Care from shutting down ‘his’ Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center blood donor service, 34 jobs lost.   State employment administrators stopped posting WARNs on 21 May.

Colorado: Boulder based Fresh Produce women’s clothing chain shutting down 12 stores in six states, as part of their chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Florida: Clothier Izod shutdown its Palm Beach Gardens store, then announced their Palm Beach Outlets store will shutdown in June.  It’s part of the parent company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred Izod stores!  After 43 years Brasington’s Adventure Outfitters shutdown. The owner said 2008, the year of the start of the recession, was their best year but then sales crashed and never recovered.   In Jacksonville, after 30 years Benny’s Sandwich Shop shutdown due to the owner’s health problems.  State employment administrators stopped posting WARNs on 15 May.

Illinois: In Granite City, US Steel has suspended its plans to shutdown its Granite City Works factory.  Instead, 80 employees will be laid off.

Indiana:  Muncie Community Schools warned of layoffs, even after selling off their Wilson Junior High School building.   Administrators said that because of what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome, and years of consolidation ops, their Central High School is now overstaffed.  In Richmond, after 27 years Optical Disc Solutions has been sold to WTS Media and will be shutdown.

Iowa: In Davenport, the more than 20 years old Flowerama store shutdown.  The parent company, Flowerama of America, was taken over by 1-800-Flowers in 2011.

Kansas: Kansas City Public Schools laid off 31 employees and cut pay for hundreds of others, blaming $2-million USD in state taxpayer funding cuts.

Maryland: Baltimore City School District laid off 209 employees!  Administrators blame a $108-million shortfall.  Restaurant Langermann’s of Baltimore now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Owners blame ‘Freddie Gray’ social unrest as the final straw in their ongoing financial nightmare.  In Frederick, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 1-hundred years old Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church.  Attendance was down to less than 13 per week, and administrators said “They were just not going to be able to pay their bills.”  

Massachusetts:  In Cambridge, the award winning Hungry Mother restaurant being shutdown in July due to one of the co-owners leaving, and the other co-owners deciding to try something else.

Michigan: The Garden City School Board laid off 46 teachers, blaming Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) for putting the district into a $4-million hole.    Marshall Public Schools laid off eight people.  Another seven employees are being pushed into retirement.  Administrators say enrollment is fine and blame the layoffs on state taxpayer funding cuts and the loss of grant money.

Minnesota: State administrators warned 9-thousand 5-hundred state employees that their jobs are on the chopping block!  Local news reports said Democrats called it a “bad day”, while Republicans called it a “good day”!  It’s what I call a Failed State!   Minneapolis based Too Big to Jail US Bank (Bancorp) warned of mass layoffs if the Federal Reserve failed to jack up interests rates.

New Jersey: Sussex County Community College eliminating 11 jobs.  Administrators blame a new $3-million renovation project for the Student Center, and five years of DSS.  They expect to lose $1.2-million in the upcoming school year due to crashing student enrollment.

New York: The largest Too Big to Jail bank in the U.S., NYC based JP Morgan Chase, began mass layoffs across the country that will total more than 5-thousand by the end of 2016!   In Commack, import/export company CBC America issued a WARN saying they are joining the exodus from The Empire State.  46 jobs to be moved to North Carolina by the end of the year.   At John F. Kennedy International Airport, Envoy Air issued a mass layoff WARN saying 693 jobs will be lost as they join the exodus from The Empire State and move ops to Texas and Illinois!  The Commission on Economic Opportunity issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Stepping Stones Two childcare center in Rensselaer, 34 jobs lost in August.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, after almost four years District Roof Top Bar & Grille shutdown, the owners blame the un-recovered economy: “It takes time, resources and a bit of luck to establish a restaurant. In our case it was just one winter season too many.”-Mark Skoggard, co-owner

North Dakota: Texas based Warren Buffet owned BNSF Railway  began furloughing employees due to crashing demand for North Dakota Oil Patch shipments by rail.  In Fargo, Case IH and New Holland farm equipment maker CNH Industrial laid off 38 people.  Back in February they laid off 80 employees.  In 2014  they laid off 40 people.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after nearly 80 years Triplets children’s shoe store shutdown.

Pennsylvania: Connellsville Area School District laid off 40 teachers.  What I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) is the cause.  Reporters with WPXI did some math and discovered that the district lost 1-thousand 3-hundred students in the past ten years!  In Gettysburg, after 33 years Wentz Stained Glass Studio shutdown.

South Carolina: After 95 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Pruitt’s Grocery shutdown due to the owner’s poor health.

Virginia:  In Orange, after 19 years the Dairy Korner Restaurant shutdown.

24 – 27 May 2015: New word for layoffs is ‘synergies’, “…and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 – 27 May 2015: New word for layoffs is ‘synergies’, “…and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.”!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: California’s The PennySaver shutdown after 50 years of publication (there are many other independent ‘pennysaver’ publications throughout the U.S.)!  Employee Luann Benton told local news media “We had no idea the company was going to shutdown!”  It’s blamed on last year’s takeover by vulture capitalist Open Gate.   In San Bernardino, after 67 years the owners of The Mug restaurant announced it will shutdown in June. Loyal customers call it “a huge icon”. Local news reports said the owner would not explain why it was being shutdown, but employees explained that the area has been losing businesses for several years now, and that’s negatively impacted the number of people that check out the restaurant (in other words, sales have crashed).  The San Diego Union Tribune laid off 178 truck drivers, machinists, electricians, packagers circulation, sales, finance and pressroom workers!  Most employees said it came without warning.  It’s blamed on the takeover by Tribune Publishing, and resulting consolidation of operations to Los Angeles, at the same place the Los Angeles Times is published.  Company administrators tried to say they warned employees, but the problem is they called impending layoffs “synergies”: “When the two companies announced that they were coming together, we said at the time there were going to be some synergies, and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.”-Russ Newton, president San Diego Union Tribune

Colorado: In Longmont, the legal drugs seller Walgreens announced it will shutdown its Main Street  store in June. Company administrators would only say “We are closing a number of stores that are underperforming around the country.” 

Illinois: Closeout retailer Tuesday Morning announced it is shutting down its Rockford store in July.

Louisiana:  In Metairie, a greedy landlord shutdown the 38 years old Tiffin Inn Pancake House. The property owner signed a new contract with a home decor chain store.

Maine: Catalyst Paper says it must “temporarily” layoff 50 employees.  A temporary layoff is basically what’s known as a furlough.  However, there’s a possibility the temp layoff could become permanent as company administrators said they will be “re-evaluating the situation throughout the summer”.  The company makes paper for magazines, and with all the magazine shutdowns orders are crashing.

Michigan: In Northville, the owners of Riffle’s Homestyle Kitchen announced it will shutdown in June. After 31 years they said they’ve finally realized you can’t provided quality food while competing against the low prices of ‘Big Box’ restaurants, so “Rather than cut corners or raise prices, we’ve elected to move on to other endeavors.”

Minnesota: Indiana based Steel Dynamics shutdown two pig iron ops, one in Hoyt Lakes and the other in Chisholm, at least 2-hundred jobs lost!  To give you an idea how long this so called ‘recovered’ economy is going to last, Steel Dynamics said the layoffs would be in effect for at least two years!  Minnesota’s Iron Range ops have seen employers eliminate more than 1-thousand jobs so far this year!  Obama Care medical device tax forcing Minnetonka based IMRIS (Innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems) to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Reports say the company could be taken over by vulture capitalist Deerfield Management.

Mississippi: In Hamilton, chemical company Tronox will shutdown one of two sodium chlorate factories this year, 70 jobs lost.  The chemical is used in the paper industry and Tronox administrators say orders from paper companies have crashed.

New Jersey: Crashing & burning Atlantic City conducted a second round of school district cuts, laying off 75 more employees.  It was also revealed that more than 30 employees were forced to resign or retire early.  City administrators warned that a third round of layoffs is in the works.  Gerresheimer Glass announced it will shutdown its Millville factory by the end of the year, 1-hundred more jobs lost!   They already laid off 115 factory workers back in January! Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate operations.

New York: In Jamaica, milk products distributor Derle Farms issued a shutdown WARN saying they are moving operations to Bathpage by September, 72 employees will be affected.  Evil financial advisor PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Albany office in August, 38 jobs lost.

Ohio: Sweden based Johnson Metall announced it will shutdown its Lorain ops in July, at least 35 jobs lost.  Local news reports say at one point there were more than 1-hundred employees at the industrial parts factory.  Company administrators stated “Most recently, we’ve manufactured parts for wind turbines, and then the oil and gas industry. With the decline in both of those industries, and the lack of profitable replacement work, we have seen a significant decline in customer orders and are running the facility at a loss.”

Oregon: After 20 years the operators of Oregon Coast Periodontics announced it will shutdown in June, supposedly because the owner moved to Louisiana, which they called “unfortunate circumstances”.

Pennsylvania: In Deptford, the owners of 37 years old Freeway Diner shutdown on Memorial Day. The property is being re-purposed as a strip mall.

Texas: In San Antonio, aircraft customizer GDC Technics laid off 162 people!  Ironically company administrators blamed a “growing backlog” of work for forcing them to move to Fort Worth and eliminate the 162 positions!  In Aransas Pass, off shore oil rig fabricator Gulf Marine Fabricators warned it will eliminate 554 jobs!

Virginia: In Richmond, MARTIN’S Food Markets announced they will shutdown their 42 years old store on Staples Mill Road, in July. They claim “the store has not achieved performance goals.” MARTIN’s bought the store from Ukrop in 2010.  Sears Holdings announced the Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart will shutdown in July, 82 jobs lost.

Washington: In Spokane, without warning the 25 years old Olive Garden restaurant shutdown by owner Darden Restaurants, 80 jobs lost overnight. Local news reports said Darden Restaurants administrators accused the Spokane Olive Garden of failing to perform.

21 – 23 May 2015: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis 08 June 2015: Albertsons Safeway suddenly closes Oregon & Washington stores! Property analyst calls B-S on the official reason!

“Today we are a $57 billion dollar company with 250,000 employees, the second biggest traditional grocery chain in America and the good news is we are headquartered in Boise.”-Bob Miller, CEO Albertsons-Safeway, 08 June 2015

Despite the optimism of the new Albertsons-Safeway, they’ve agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by three hedge funds who held stock in Safeway.   The three hedge funds combined will now get an additional $127-million USD for their shares of Safeway!

Cerberus controlled and AB Acquisition owned Albertsons-Safeway blaming an expired lease and a greedy property owner for the shutdown of its Beaverton, Oregon, grocery store.  The 20 years old store is scheduled to shutdown on the 20th.

Albertsons-Safeway administrators claimed “We were caught by surprise” by a rent increase, however, a commercial property analyst called Bull-Shit on that: “They are never caught by surprise! Every big retailer is in the real estate business whether they say so or not!”-Jeff Sackett, Capstone Partners

In Poulsbo, Washington, the Albertsons will shutdown on 05 July because it is “an underperforming store”, according to company administrators.  However, I discovered the real reason for the shutdown is because there is a Safeway just across the street!  60 jobs will be lost.

In Pennsylvania, the last Albertsons-Safeway owned Genuardi’s grocery store shutdown: “We’re the last store that will have the Genuardi banner out there because the lease has expired and the landlord and Safeway agreed to exit the market…..it just happened a little faster than we expected….”– John Vuotto, employee relations

To add insult to the injury of the Genuardi’s shutdown (and the ongoing shutdowns everywhere), Safeway claims they will hire 2-thousand temporary summer-time  employees across the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.: “This full-scale push to hire well beyond attrition is something we have not done for a very long time.”-Lisa Umali, eastern division human resources director

In Henderson, Nevada, a fire damaged a Albertsons-Safeway controlled Vons grocery store.  The store has re-opened.

In Arcata, California, a Safeway was evacuated after people began feeling faint.  Firefighters determined a relief valve for coolant failed and the refrigerant gas leaked into a generator room.

27 May 2015: Albertsons Safeway shuts down Tom Thumb stores!

Updated list:

Manitoba, Canada: Sobeys-Safeway announced it will shutdown it’s King Edward Street warehouse by 2016, at least 172 jobs lost!

Arizona, U.S.A.: Peoria Safeway and Claypool Safeway will shutdown in June, at least 94 jobs affected. The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Anthem Safeway, two Tucson Safeways, Tucson Albertsons, two Scottsdale Albertsons, Flagstaff Albertsons, Prescott Valley Albertsons. In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.

California, U.S.A.: The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June. Two Albertsons-Safeway owned Vons stores will shutdown in Fresno, by June, 127 jobs lost! Albertsons-Safeway laid off 129 people from their Pleasanton HQ in April. Albertsons-Safeway issued a WARN saying another 188 layoffs are scheduled for the Pleasanton by the end of May! Albertsons-Vons announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.” Arcadia Vons Pavillions SuperStore shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ laid off at least 26 people in February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway laid off an additional 18 HQ employees in March. A San Diego Albertsons shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost. The following additional grocery stores will become Haggen; Vons in Palm Desert, Pavillions in Rancho Mirage, two Santa Barbara Albertsons, two Goleta Vons, Lompoc Albertsons, Paso Robles Vons, Arroyo Grande Albertsons, San Louis Obispo Albertsons, Atascadero Albertsons, Los Osos Vons, Palmdale Albertsons, three Bakersfield Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Simi Valley Albertsons, Simi Valley Vons, Oxnard Albertsons, Carpinteria Vons, Camarillo Albertsons, Ventura albertsons, Yorba Linda Albertsons, two Tustin Vons, Mission Viejo Vons, Mission Viejo Albertsons, Trabuco Canyon Albertsons, Laguna Beach Albertsons, Laguna Niguel Vons, Corona Del Mar Albertsons, Irvine (Vons) Pavillions, eight San Diego Albertsons (don’t be surprised if several are closed), San Yisidro Albertsons, Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, Coronado Albertsons, San Marcos Vons, two El Cajon Vons, Santee Albertsons, Poway Albertsons, Del Mar Albertsons, two Carlsbad Albertsons, two La Mesa Vons, three Chula Vista Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), Upland Albertsons, Diamond Bar Vons, Rancho Cucamonga Albertsons, Chino Hills Vons, Burbank Albertsons, Woodland Hills Vons, Westlake Village Albertsons, Thousand Oaks Albertsons, Santa Clarita (Vons) Pavillions, Saugus Vons, Newbury Park Vons, Tujunga Albertsons, Long Beach Albertsons, two San Pedro Albertsons, Lomita Albertsons, Torrance Albertsons, Santa Monica Albertsons, three Redondo Beach Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Los Angeles Albertsons.

Colorado, U.S.A.: Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June! Colorado Springs Albertsons shutdown in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Florida, U.S.A.: Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Clearwater store in May, 86 jobs lost.

Hawaii, U.S.A.: Drugs pusher Walgreens canceled plans to open a pharmacy in the Kauai Safeway: “As part of this process, Walgreens did a comprehensive financial reassessment of its plans to open a new store in Lihue on Kauai, and have concluded that it is not in the company’s best interests to move forward with opening a store in that location.”

Illinois: The Jewel-Osco HQ in Itasca was sold for $23.7-million. A local news report implied it was the result of the hostile takeover of Safeway by Albertsons.

Nevada, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Boulder City Vons, three Henderson Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), three Las Vegas Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed).

Oregon, U.S.A.: Beaverton Albertsons being shutdown on 20 June, 68 jobs affected.  In Lake Oswego, Albertsons taken over by Haggen. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March. Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen. Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.

Pennsylvania: The last Safeway owned Genuardi’s grocery store shutdown, 40 jobs lost.

Texas, U.S.A.: Arlington Tom Thumbs shutting down in June, at least 45 jobs affected. In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons became Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets (apparently the result of a court order). The Tom Thumb grocery stores in Bedford and Grapevine converting to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.

Washington, U.S.A.: The Poulsbo Albertsons shutting down in July,  60 jobs affected.  The Safeway in Spokane Valley shutdown in March, 60 jobs lost. Company administrators said it was not due to the takeover by Cerberus controlled Albertsons, but that the lease expired and it wasn’t worth renewing it. In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June. Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February. Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March. Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June. Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February. Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March. Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 – 23 May 2015: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened…” Landlord & city officials conspire against longtime local restaurant owner! ObamaCare getting EPIC!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: In Russelville, after 64 years Wilkins Brothers Outdoors brick-n-mortar sporting goods store shutdown. The owners said they are focusing on internet sales only.

Arizona: In Phoenix, after 59 years iconic Bill Johnson’s Big Apple restaurant shutdown, 32 jobs lost. It’s being turned into a parking lot for the worthless taxpayer supported GateWay Community College! In Mesa, after 34 years Landmark Restaurant shutdown, the building was sold to a company that specializes in weddings.

California: In Fresno, Texas based Greatwide Distribution Logistics issued a layoff WARN, 93 jobs lost in August.  News reports also said that Greatwide Distribution Logistics was eliminating 71 jobs in West Sacramento, by July.  What automotive industry recovery? In Long Beach, Japan based Toyota announced they will eliminate 95 jobs at their Auto Body California factory.  Toyota is moving some production of its Tacoma pickup truck to Texas.  The Ventura County Community Foundation laid off five employees.  LAN company Extreme Networks announced it is eliminating 285 jobs!  Company administrators are trying to cut $40-million USD in costs by relying “on our channel partners” to get the job done.

Indiana: Is Obama Care the reason why 67 Goodwill employees suddenly lost their jobs at the Richard K. Roudebush VA Medical Center?   Goodwill administrators said that “Specifically, the Medical Center unexpectedly ended its longstanding contractual relationship with Goodwill without any prior notice of performance problems.”  They also hinted at Obama Care, blaming “unforeseeable business circumstances”.

Iowa: In Sioux City, after 73 years farm equipment maker Soo Tractor Sweep-Rake is shutting down, 53 jobs lost. Company administrators blame crashing farm equipment sales.

Kansas: In Wichita, after 20 years Garcia’s Tacos shutdown.

Massachusetts: In Boston weak, Obama Care forcing Lahey Health to eliminate 130 jobs at three of its hospitals!  Administrators referred to Obama Care as “an exceedingly challenging health care environment”.   They also blamed the implementation of a new healthcare information sharing system called EPIC.

Michigan:  Obama Care forcing insurance provider HealthPlus to eliminate 5-hundred jobs!  The layoffs will begin in July.  HealthPlus is selling its Medicaid and MIChild contracts to a competitor.    In Flint, after 29 years Salvatore Scallopini restaurant shutdown without warning by the greedy landlord and city administrators, 28 jobs affected. Unbeknownst to the restaurant operator, the landlord and the city council agreed to replace the Italian restaurant with a shitty IHOP: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened and everyone found out.”-Bill Nivicki, restaurant operator

Minnesota: Hartford Financial Services eliminating 190 jobs as it shuts down its Woodbury office and consolidates to Pennsylvania!

Montana: In Helena, after 32 years The Donut Hole shutdown once and for all. Back in January the owner tried to find funding to help him move the store to a new location but nothing panned out, so the donut shop was sold to property speculators from Utah who claim they will turn it into a coffee shop.

New York: In Cortland, after 181 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Apex Tool issued a shutdown WARN, 89 jobs lost between August and December.  Company administrators are joining the great exodus from The Empire State and moving production to Pennsylvania and South Carolina.  In Rouses Point, legal drugs maker Pfizer issued a shutdown WARN for December, and added that layoffs will start in August.

Ohio: In Dayton, after 23 years China Royal restaurant shutdown. The property owner blamed a grease fire as being the final straw, implying that the old buildings in Dayton need to be updated to prevent such fires.  The state’s Office of Unemployment Operations laid off 42 employees.  State administrators say it’s because Ohio’s economy is improving.  Then, right as state ‘officials’ claimed the economy was good, the country’s largest private coal producer, Ohio based Murray Energy/American Energy, announced 1-thousand 8-hundred job cuts!  That’s on top of the 214 job cuts the company made in West Virginia back in April!  Murray Energy also operates mines in Illinois, Kentucky and Utah.

Tennessee: Sears Holdings announced a Sears store & Auto Center will shutdown in August. Its location, the Bellevue Center mall, is being torn down to make a massive apartment complex, hotel and smaller retail shops.  At least 44 jobs lost.

Texas: Houston based FMC Technologies announced at least 59 layoffs planned for its Schilling Robotics locations in California, Texas and Aberdeen, Scotland.

Virginia: Babcock & Wilcox laid off 10 employees at its nuclear division in Lynchburg.

Washington: Ace Hardware shutdown in Mill Plain. The evil property owner (Killian Pacific) kicked them out so they could demolish the Garrison Square shopping center.  Other businesses that will be affected by the “major rebranding of the property” are Planet Fitness, Manning Academy Beauty School and Spa, and Mexico Lindo Restaurant.

18 – 20 May 2015: “healthcare services for our communities will be reduced and disrupted” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 18 – 20 May 2015: “healthcare services for our communities will be reduced and disrupted” ObamaCare layoffs escalate! Coal mine layoffs escalate! Evil foreclosure law firm now dead!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

It’s been revealed that British empire United Kingdom based Rolls Royce is eliminating at least 3-thousand jobs around the World, including in the United States, due to crashing demand from the oil industry!

Alabama: In Brookwood, Walter Energy announced that 4-hundred coal mine employees will become unemployed within two months!   Administrators blame the low price of coal on the commodity markets.

Arizona: In Tucson, after 53 years West Boutique Florist shutdown, the owner lamented “I have been too long here. I tried to build this business, never made it big….I have a good relationship, good customers but my family didn’t want it anymore…”.   More trouble for Texas based Blue Bell ice cream maker. Blue Bell Creameries is closing three Grand Canyon State distribution centers, more than 1-hundred jobs lost!

California: Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Safeway’s Pleasanton HQ, saying an additional 28 people will be let go in July.  In San Francisco, once again British empire United Kingdom based U.S. tax-sucker BAE revealed more layoffs, this time 104 people laid off in one day! Also in San Francisco, New York based restaurant ‘witchcraft issued a shutdown WARN for July, 29 jobs lost. However, I’ve checked their website and they’ve already removed any references to their San Francisco eatery.  In Sunnyvale, NetApp issued a layoff WARN, 125 jobs lost in July!  In Milpitas, SanDisk issued a layoff WARN for July, 27 jobs lost.

Florida: Yet another evil law firm going down.  Butler & Hosch shutdown without warning, which is great because their specialty was foreclosing on home buyers!  About 7-hundred lawyers and their staff, across the country, now jobless!  However, it turns out that the executives have already got jobs lined up at other evil law firms.  It turns out that Butler & Hosch spent big money on buying up ‘default assets’ from scandal ridden law firm Morris Schneider Wittstadt, three months before Butler & Hosch went bust.  The CEO of Butler & Hosch called it “a step forward” for his law firm.  At least two former employees are now suing the evil home stealing company.

Hawaii:  Obama Care forcing taxpayer funded Hawai’i Health Systems Corporation’s to eliminate 87 jobs in its East Hawai’i Region.  That includes Hilo Medical Center, Ka’u Hospital, and Hale Ho’ola Hamakua.  Administrators estimate that increasing costs and decreasing Obama Care reimbursements will cost the state hospital system $7-million USD in revenue losses for fiscal year 2016!  Administrators warned that Obama Care is actually restricting access to healthcare: “Some healthcare services for our communities will be reduced and disrupted….As a result of operational efficiencies and cost reductions we’ve already instituted, we are able to complete our current fiscal year intact, but those action are not enough to make up for the coming year’s shortfall….it saddens us that very capable people who help care for our community will lose their jobs.”-Dan Brinkman, interim CEO

Illinois: Obama Care forced Chicago based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions to layoff 250 healthcare information tech employees across the United States!  It was implied that electronic healthcare records keeping will be, or already has, been moved to India.

Louisiana: In Lafayette, an insider leaked news that Texas based  Frank’s International laid off 150 people!  Administrators with the oil tool company replied that “Franks International is currently undergoing some changes.”  Administrators blame oil prices, but I discovered that those “changes” include buying out a competitor for $95-million.  Apparently the 150 layoffs in Louisiana are on top of earlier announced 6-hundred layoffs around the country.

Kansas: Obama Care forced Select Specialty Hospital to shutdown their ops within the Saint Francis Hospital in Topeka.  Administrators directly blamed Obama Care for changing the rules for reimbursing healthcare providers for long term acute care.  News reports say about 1-hundred jobs lost!

Maine: Maine Today Media sold off some of its newspaper ops resulting in at least five layoffs, but more are expected after June.  There are reports that the new owner does not want to keep the old employees.

New Jersey: Cereal maker Post shutdown their Parsippany HQ and moving it to Minnesota. Administrators say 2-hundred jobs around the country will be affected!

New York: The Children’s Aid Society issued a mass layoff WARN saying they will eliminate jobs at dozens of their ops across the NYC metro area, between August and the end of December.  God refuses to stop ‘his’ College of Saint Rose from eliminating 40 jobs, and slashing Obama Care benefits for employees (meaning employees will have to pay a greater share of the cost of their healthcare).  Christian administrators blame The Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS).  In just five years the school went from having a budget with a “modest surplus” to a “structural deficit”.

North Carolina: California based NetApp announced that 2-hundred Research Triangle Park employees will lose their jobs! Local news reports said the announcement was a “surprise”.

Pennsylvania:  In Sunbury, 68 years old Pop Snyder’s restaurant shutdown. The corporate owner (RAS Bar) said the restaurant was not making enough money, even after they spent big bucks remodeling the eatery in 2014.  News reports say school bus operator First Student laid off 36 people in Bethlehem.

Texas:  I discovered that Houston based Frank’s International announced back in March that it would eliminate up to 6-hundred oil industry jobs!  The layoffs will affect the states of Texas, Colorado, North Dakota and Pennsylvania.  In Heights, Obama Care forced Select Specialty Hospital to issue a shutdown WARN for July, eliminating 222 jobs!  Administrators called Obama Care “business reasons”.  Obama Care forced taxpayer funded non-profit El Paso Children’s Hospital to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted!

Virginia: Alpha Natural Resources announced another 71 layoffs at its coal mining ops in Kentucky and Virginia.  Virginia’s U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith stated that Alpha Natural Resources has eliminated 3-thousand 2-hundred coal mining jobs “Due to a challenged coal market and burdensome regulations over the past several years…”!   Artfully Chocolate bistro shutdown. Everything is being sold in an internet auction. Another Artfully Chocolate was shutdown in 2014.

Wisconsin: UW Madison announced that 434 jobs will be eliminated no thanks to Right to Work you over Scott Walker, and other ‘lawmakers’, plan to cut $300-million from the state university system (never mind that Walker and other ‘lawmakers’ are going to spend $250-million tax dollars to help build a $500-million sports stadium)!  Food processor ConAgra announced it is shutting down its Ripon cookie factory by the end of the year, at least 3-hundred jobs lost! The associated Rippin’ Good Cookie Outlet Store will also be shutdown.  In Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Sand Transport laid off at least 55 employees due to crashing oil industry demand.  US Silica will layoff 30 people at its Sparta sands ops by July: “We will operate the plant with a smaller workforce because we’ve seen a significant decrease in oil drilling, which has reduced demand for our sand.”-company statement

15 – 17 May 2015: “We’ve noticed an exodus…just vacancies….and lots of for rent signs…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”